Home appliance with handle, end cap, and crush rib

ABSTRACT

A home appliance includes a handle; an end cap attaching the handle to the home appliance; and a crush rib disposed between the handle and the end cap. The home appliance may include a locating feature, wherein the crush rib is disposed on the locating feature. The locating feature may be a pin.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present technology relates to attaching a handle to a home appliance. More particularly, the present technology relates an enhancement that makes attaching a handle to a home appliance easier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the modern kitchen, one common appliance is the dishwasher, or in more specific terms, the automatic dishwasher. Most automatic dishwashers share certain basic components. There is a compartment in which the dishes or crockery are placed and enclosed for treatment or washing. Commonly, there is at least one rack to hold the items to be cleaned. A hinged door or sliding drawer is commonly used to enclose the compartment and its contents, and the door or drawer frequently includes a handle. There are commonly a number of nozzles for spraying water to facilitate the cleaning within the compartment and a basin that collects water sprayed from the nozzles. A drain is incorporated into the basin and the drain is connected to a hose to allow water to be removed from the dishwasher. Lastly, there is a dispenser for detergent to release detergent into the compartment during the treatment process and the detergent dispenser will have a cover to hold the detergent therein. Of course, it is to be understood that these components are common and basic, and that individual appliances will differ in the make-up of their components.

The handle may include a handle bar disposed between two end caps. The end caps may attach the handle bar to an outer surface of the dishwasher. To facilitate assembly in such a configuration, there may be multiple pins between the handle bar and the end caps to facilitate alignment.

A need has developed to address one or more shortcomings of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Where there are two or more pins for alignment at an interface between an end cap and a handle bar (there are typically two such interfaces when the handle bar is attached at two ends by way of two end caps), the Applicants discovered that one or more of the pins can become damaged when the handle bar is securely fastened to the end cap by way of a fastener, for example, a screw. When the fastener draws the handle securely to the end cap, one or more pins may be damaged due to misalignment, which can be due to manufacturing tolerances, between the pins and holes for the pins and the material when the holes are locating being harder than the material of the pins.

However, with a single pin, such damage can be reduced or eliminated. Also, by providing a structure (such as a crush rib) that preferentially receives damage due to such misalignment, the damage can occur in a controlled, acceptable manner.

One aspect of the present technology is to provide a handle and end cap that overcome one or more shortcomings of the prior art.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a home appliance, comprising a handle, an end cap attaching the handle to the home appliance, and a crush rib disposed between the handle and the end cap.

In examples, (a) the home appliance is a dishwasher, (b) the home appliance further comprises a locating feature, wherein the crush rib is disposed on the locating feature, (c) wherein the locating feature is a pin, (d) the pin is conical or frustoconical, (e) there is no more than one pin per end of the handle, (f) the locating feature is disposed on a surface of the end cap, and offset from a centerline of the surface, the centerline being along a direction of a length of the handle, (g) the locating feature is part of the end cap, (h) the handle comprises two ends and the end cap and the handle are each adapted such that the end cap fits on both ends of the handle to secure the handle to the home appliance, (i) the home appliance further comprises a plurality of crush ribs, (j) the plurality of crush ribs is arrayed around a locating pin, (k) external surfaces of the plurality of crush ribs together define a generally conical shape or generally frustoconical shape, the plurality of crush ribs form a pin-like structure, (1) the handle comprises a hole and the crush rib is disposed within the hole, (m) the handle is fastened to the end cap by way of a mechanical fastener, (n) the home appliance further comprises a second end cap attaching the handle to the home appliance, wherein the end cap and the second end cap are substantially identical, (o) the crush rib is integrally formed on the end cap, (p) the end cap comprises a cradle region that conforms to and cradles a surface of the handle, a cover region that covers an end of the handle, and a locating feature disposed on the cradle region, wherein the crush rib is integrally formed on the locating feature and the cover region is substantially perpendicular to the cradle region, (q) the crush rib is adapted to preferentially deform before any other portions of the handle or the end cap when the handle is fastened to the end cap, (r) the crush rib preferentially deforms due to misalignment between a hole in the handle that is adapted to receive the crush rib and a location of the crush rib, (s) the home appliance further comprises a mechanical fastener that fastens the handle to the end cap, wherein the handle comprises: a first hole, and a second hole, and wherein the crush rib is disposed in the first hole and the mechanical fastener is disposed in the second hole, (t) the handle is made from a harder material than the crush rib, and/or (u) the home appliance further comprises a front face, wherein the end cap is attached to the front face.

An aspect of the present technology is directed to a method of assembling a home appliance, comprising: inserting a crush rib that is on an end cap into a handle, fastening the handle to the end cap, and fastening the end cap to the home appliance.

In examples, (a) the method further comprises deforming the crush rib, (b) the fastening the handle forces alignment between the handle and the end cap and deforms the crush rib, (c) tightening a fastener fastens the handle to the end cap, (d) the method further comprises inserting a second crush rib on a second end cap into the handle, fastening the handle to the second end cap, and fastening the handle to the home appliance, and/or (e) the method further comprises inserting a plurality of crush ribs on the end cap into the handle, and deforming at least one crush rib while fastening the handle to the end cap.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of this technology will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handle on a front panel of a home appliance;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end cap in accordance with the related art;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end cap;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a handle and end cap assembled together;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are sectional views taken along 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of crush ribs; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of crush ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is provided in relation to several examples which may share common characteristics and features. It is to be understood that one or more features of any one example may be combinable with one or more features of the other examples. In addition, any single feature or combination of features in any of the examples may constitute additional examples.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic appliance depicted as a dishwasher 100. The dishwasher 100 includes a drawer 102 into which dishes can be loaded. Two end caps 300 and a handle bar 200 are attached to the drawer 102. Although the dishwasher 100 is illustrated as including a drawer 102 for loading dishes, the dishwasher 100 could also include a door 102 for loading the dishes. Also, the domestic appliance could be other appliances such as an oven, refrigerator, freezer, microwave oven, washer, drier, etc. The home appliance or dishwasher 100 may include a treatment chamber/container, temperature control (e.g., heating and/or cooling elements), a user operated interface (e.g., buttons, dials, displays, etc.), and/or a controller with associated control elements for controlling various features.

FIG. 2 shows handle bar 200, which includes an end 202 and one or more holes, e.g., three holes 204, 206, 208. The handle bar 200 is illustrated with a roughly oval cross section, but other cross sections are encompassed by the present technology.

FIG. 3 shows an end cap 900 in accordance with the related art. The end cap 900 includes two conical pins 902, 904, a hole 910, a covering portion 906 and a curved portion 908. The two conical pins 902, 904 are adapted to mate with two holes 204, 206 in the handle bar 200. One hole 208 in the handle bar 200 is adapted to align with the hole 910 in the end cap 900. A fastener 150, such as a screw, passes through and engages with the aligned holes 208, 910 to fasten the handle bar 200 to the end cap 900. The curved portion 908 is complementary to, or mates with, the roughly oval cross section of the handle bar 200.

However, due to variability during manufacturing, when the fastener 150 is tightened, one or both of the conical pins 902, 904 pins can be damaged or even destroyed.

FIG. 4 shows an end cap 300. The end cap 300 includes only one locating feature or pin 302 with crush ribs 304, a covering portion 306, a curved portion 308 and a hole 310. Although illustrated with only one pin 302, the end cap 300 could have more than one pin 302, and if more than one pin 302 is included, each pin may or may not include crush ribs 304. The end cap 300 also includes a base 312 that engages a surface of the dishwasher 100 when the end cap 300 is attached to the dishwasher 100.

Although the pin 302 and crush ribs 304 are discussed and illustrated throughout as being located on the end cap 300, one or both of the pin 302 and the crush ribs 304 could be located on the handle 200. For example, the combination of pin 302 and crush ribs 304 could be located on the handle 200 with a corresponding hole 206 located on the end cap 300. Alternatively, the pin 302 could remain on the end cap 300 while the crush ribs 304 are disposed within the hole 206. Similarly, a hole 206 with internal crush ribs 304 could be located on the end cap 300 with a pin 302 located on the handle.

The covering portion 306 serves at least two purposes. First, the covering portion 306 covers the end 202 of the handle 200, providing improved cosmetic appearance. Also, the covering portion 306 serves to locate the handle 200 within the end cap 300 by abutting the end 202. Although the covering portion 306 is illustrated as completely covering the end 202 of the handle 200, the covering portion 200 could cover only a portion of the end 202.

A configuration with four crush ribs 304 on the pin 302 is illustrated in FIG. 4, with the crush ribs 304 being equally spaced around the pin 302 at approximately ninety degree intervals. The number of crush ribs 304 may be chosen such that the crush ribs 304 provide a centering action around the pin 302 when the crush ribs 304 are inserted into a hole (such has hole 206). For example, two or three crush ribs 304 could be provided. Any number of crush ribs 304 can be provided depending on the needs of the design. For example, the number of crush ribs 304 can be optimized based on the need to center the crush ribs 304 in a hole versus resistance to crushing.

The pin 302 may be cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, or any other suitable shape. Each of the crush ribs 304 includes an outer-most or external surface 304 a. The surface 304 a may engage an inner surface of a hole with which the surface 304 a engages (see FIG. 7). The crush ribs 304 thus roughly define a shape which is cylindrical, conical or frustoconical, similar to the pin 302. It is possible for the pin 302 to be cylindrical and the crush ribs 304 to form a conical or frustoconical shape or vice versa.

In FIG. 4, the hole 310 is illustrated as being centered on a width W of the end cap 300. The pin 302 is illustrated as being offset from a center of the width W. In this example, the end cap 300 can be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees on the base 312 so as to mate with an opposite end of the handle bar 200. Such a configuration may be advantageous in that identical end caps 300 can be used for opposite ends of the handle bar 200. Alternatively, the pin 302 and hole 310 could both be located on midpoint of the width W to provide an end cap 300 that is usable on both ends of the handle bar 200, but the offset configuration shown in FIG. 4 allows for the end cap 300 to be shorter in the length L direction.

FIG. 5 illustrates the handle bar 200 attached to the end cap 300. As best seen in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, the curvature of the handle bar 200 is seated within the curved portion 308 and the holes 208, 310 are aligned, with a fastener 150 within the holes 208, 310. Although the fastener 150 is illustrated as being inserted from one direction, the fastener could be inserted from the opposite direction as well. Also, the fastener 150 may only connect the handle bar 150 to the end cap 300 as shown in FIG. 6 a or the fastener 150 may also connect the handle bar 200 and end cap 300 to the outer surface of the drawer 102 and shown in FIG. 6 b. As best seen in FIG. 7, the pin 302 and crush ribs 304 are disposed within the hole 206. During the process of attaching the handle bar 200 to the end cap 300, the pin 302 and crush ribs 304 are used for rough alignment and guiding the holes 208, 310 together. When the fastener 150 is tightened, the resultant force will tend to align the end cap 300 and handle bar 200 at the holes 208, 310. If the crush ribs 304 are selected from a relatively soft material (a material that is softer than a material of the handle bar 200), misalignment between the mating parts can be absorbed by crushing one or more of the crush ribs 304 without damaging the handle bar 200 or placing any excessive stress on the end cap 300 or handle bar 200. The figures show an example where the crush ribs are not damaged. Examples of suitable materials are metal for the handle bar 200 and plastic for the crush ribs 304.

In an example, the pin 302 may be omitted (or a diameter of the pin approaches zero) with crush ribs 304 lengthened to accommodate for the omitted pin 302 so that the crush ribs 304 meet at approximately the center of the omitted pin 302. By omitting the pin 302, the resultant shape of the crush ribs 304 would be cross-shaped or “+” shaped with four crush ribs 304 being included, although other shapes would occur with different numbers of crush ribs 304. In this example, the crush ribs 304 together form a pin-like structure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative shape for the crush ribs 304. Here, the crush ribs 304 take the form of lobes or flower petal-like shapes instead of the rectangular shapes illustrated in other figures. Here, the pin 302 is omitted as discussed above.

The crush ribs 304 may be integrally formed with the structure on which the crush ribs 304 are located. For example, the crush ribs 304 may be integrally formed as part of the pin 302 and/or the end cap 300. Alternatively, the crush ribs 304 may be formed separately and fastened, if appropriate, to the structure on which the crush ribs 304 are located.

While the present technology has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred examples, it is to be understood that the technology is not to be limited to the disclosed examples, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the technology. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A home appliance, comprising: a handle; an end cap attaching the handle to the home appliance; and a crush rib disposed between the handle and the end cap.
 2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the home appliance is a dishwasher.
 3. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a locating feature, wherein the crush rib is disposed on the locating feature.
 4. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the locating feature is a pin.
 5. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein the pin is conical or frustoconical.
 6. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein there is no more than one pin per end of the handle.
 7. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the locating feature is: disposed on a surface of the end cap, and offset from a centerline of the surface, the centerline being along a direction of a length of the handle.
 8. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the locating feature is part of the end cap.
 9. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises two ends and the end cap and the handle are each adapted such that the end cap fits on both ends of the handle to secure the handle to the home appliance.
 10. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of crush ribs.
 11. The home appliance according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of crush ribs is arrayed around a locating pin.
 12. The home appliance according to claim 10, wherein external surfaces of the plurality of crush ribs together define a generally conical shape or generally frustoconical shape.
 13. The home appliance according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of crush ribs form a pin-like structure.
 14. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a hole and the crush rib is disposed within the hole.
 15. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the handle is fastened to the end cap by way of a mechanical fastener.
 16. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a second end cap attaching the handle to the home appliance, wherein the end cap and the second end cap are substantially identical.
 17. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the crush rib is integrally formed on the end cap.
 18. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the end cap comprises: a cradle region that conforms to and cradles a surface of the handle, a cover region that covers an end of the handle, and a locating feature disposed on the cradle region, wherein the crush rib is integrally formed on the locating feature and the cover region is substantially perpendicular to the cradle region.
 19. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the crush rib is adapted to preferentially deform before any other portions of the handle or the end cap when the handle is fastened to the end cap.
 20. The home appliance according to claim 19, wherein the crush rib preferentially deforms due to misalignment between a hole in the handle that is adapted to receive the crush rib and a location of the crush rib.
 21. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical fastener that fastens the handle to the end cap, wherein the handle comprises: a first hole, and a second hole; and wherein the crush rib is disposed in the first hole and the mechanical fastener is disposed in the second hole.
 22. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the handle is made from a harder material than the crush rib.
 23. The home appliance of claim 1, further comprising a front face, wherein the end cap is attached to the front face.
 24. A method of assembling a home appliance, comprising: inserting a crush rib that is on an end cap into a handle; fastening the handle to the end cap; and fastening the end cap to the home appliance.
 25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising deforming the crush rib.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the fastening the handle forces alignment between the handle and the end cap and deforms the crush rib.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein tightening a fastener fastens the handle to the end cap.
 28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising: inserting a second crush rib on a second end cap into the handle; fastening the handle to the second end cap; and fastening the handle to the home appliance.
 29. The method according to claim 24, further comprising: inserting a plurality of crush ribs on the end cap into the handle; and deforming at least one crush rib while fastening the handle to the end cap. 